Inclusive Fishing Community Grant Program Now Accepting Applications

Press release from the CDFW:

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is now accepting applications for the Vamos A Pescar community grant program for fishing programs, classes and activities committed to educating and engaging diverse, multi-generational, bi/multi-lingual participants new to fishing, boating and aquatic stewardship in California. The Vamos A Pescar grant program is part of CDFW’s ongoing angler recruitment, retention and reactivation (R3) efforts to decrease barriers to participation and increase   awareness and support for conservation activities across the state, like fishing.

To apply for funding, programs must be:

• Ethnically inclusive. Events must be open to families of all races and ethnicities with Spanish-English bilingual instruction, materials and outreach.
• Family focused. Participation across multiple generations and genders.
• Multiple opportunities. Focus should be placed on providing multiple fishing opportunities to the same audience.
• Virtual learning compatible. Programs willing to use both in-person and virtual platforms.
• Stewardship. Programs should promote good stewardship toward California’s aquatic resources and include information on angler funded conservation projects, like those paid for by the Sport Fish Restoration Act.
• Measurable goals. Programs must include ways to measure goals and outcomes and incorporate lessons learned.
• An official 501(c)(3) organization.

Vamos A Pescar is part of Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation’s (RBFF) Hispanic initiative which is supported by the George H. W. Bush Vamos A Pescar Education Fund. To further the reach and facilitate partnerships at the local level, funds are provided for state agencies to match and sub-grant to local 501(c)(3) organizations. With the help of donations from companies and organizations, this fund has continued to grow and expand nationally to keep future generations educated about the joys of fishing and boating and the importance of conservation. CDFW utilizes funding from the Sport Fish Restoration Act and their angler generated dollars to match RBFF’s contribution to California organizations chosen to carry out the mission and work of the Vamos A Pescar Grant Program.

Interested organizations should review the RBFF George H. W. Bush Vamos A Pescar Grant Guidelines (PDF) and the CDFW grant agreement template (PDF) (left blank intentionally). To apply, organizations will need to complete the CDFW grant application (PDF) and the RBFF George H. W. Bush Vamos A Pescar application (PDF Form) and send them via email to [email protected].gov no later than 11:59 p.m. on December 11, 2022.

California-based proposals will be ranked by CDFW and submitted to RBFF for national review by their advisory board. The advisory board will choose the final grant recipients by mid-January 2023 and CDFW will notify California recipients by the end of January or shortly after. Final decisions on the program are subject to the availability of state matching funds.